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Message
A little help/advice on Train tickets in Spain
Posted on 8/11/24 at 9:06 pm
Posted on 8/11/24 at 9:06 pm
Have a big 2 week trip to spain booked for November. Will be starting in Mallorca then flying into Barcelona, over to Seville, then ending in Madrid. Planning on taking trains for transportation to the cities we're staying as well as several day trips from those cities. The rail pass system is a bit confusing, but as i understand it there are 3 options:
1. Buy a Eurail pass which is a rail pass for all of Europe and allows unlimited train rides. However seperate reservations will still need to be purchased for each ride for a cheap fee. Also, the biggest downfall of this option is some of the reservations can not be booked online and only at the train station which can be a cluster frick.
2. Buy a Spain Rail Pass which makes the train reservations free, but it is not unlimited. Options are 4,6,8, and 10 train rides with 10 being about as expensive as a Eurail pass ($400 USD each). I want to remain semi-flexible with our day trips and this option seems like you'd have to know exactly how many rides you will be taking.
3. Just book train rides on the Renfe app as needed. This is the one im leaning towards because it allows more flexibility. The only downfall is if you use this method and wait to long the trains can fill up. Also, im not sure if using this method still requires me to have some sort of pass or if just the train ticket is good?
Any advice on which is easiest or experiences any of yall have had? This is our first trip to Europe so we're trying to make it as easy as possible. Not super worried about which is cheapest. TIA
1. Buy a Eurail pass which is a rail pass for all of Europe and allows unlimited train rides. However seperate reservations will still need to be purchased for each ride for a cheap fee. Also, the biggest downfall of this option is some of the reservations can not be booked online and only at the train station which can be a cluster frick.
2. Buy a Spain Rail Pass which makes the train reservations free, but it is not unlimited. Options are 4,6,8, and 10 train rides with 10 being about as expensive as a Eurail pass ($400 USD each). I want to remain semi-flexible with our day trips and this option seems like you'd have to know exactly how many rides you will be taking.
3. Just book train rides on the Renfe app as needed. This is the one im leaning towards because it allows more flexibility. The only downfall is if you use this method and wait to long the trains can fill up. Also, im not sure if using this method still requires me to have some sort of pass or if just the train ticket is good?
Any advice on which is easiest or experiences any of yall have had? This is our first trip to Europe so we're trying to make it as easy as possible. Not super worried about which is cheapest. TIA
This post was edited on 8/11/24 at 9:20 pm
3
Posted on 8/11/24 at 9:59 pm to cfish140
Eurail passes don't pay off unless you are using the train a lot, over 10 times.
Looking at the cost of a single ticket in november from Barcelona to Seville and it's about $50 leaving at 9:50am. Seville to Madrid is about the same cost so $100 for those 2 trips. I doubt you would spend another $200 on day trips so I say buying single tix is the way to go. I booked my spanish trains last summer using Raileurope.com as it seemed a bit easier than using Renfe but they both are fine.
The train trip Barceloa to Seville is 6 hours but for the same $50 you can fly direct on Vueling airline which I have flown on and is fine. That flight is under 2 hours so even with getting to the airport 2 hours ahead of takeoff you are better off time wise.
Here is a good overview of using spanish rail pass vs. buying individual tix
Looking at the cost of a single ticket in november from Barcelona to Seville and it's about $50 leaving at 9:50am. Seville to Madrid is about the same cost so $100 for those 2 trips. I doubt you would spend another $200 on day trips so I say buying single tix is the way to go. I booked my spanish trains last summer using Raileurope.com as it seemed a bit easier than using Renfe but they both are fine.
The train trip Barceloa to Seville is 6 hours but for the same $50 you can fly direct on Vueling airline which I have flown on and is fine. That flight is under 2 hours so even with getting to the airport 2 hours ahead of takeoff you are better off time wise.
Here is a good overview of using spanish rail pass vs. buying individual tix
This post was edited on 8/11/24 at 10:06 pm
Posted on 8/12/24 at 12:15 am to cfish140
I'd lean towards option 3. Zappa's suggestion is reasonable, but I'll deal with a fair amount of suck to not fly. It also gives you the option to fly instead of train from Barca to Seville, and maybe take the train from Seville to Madrid at the end, if you feel like it. Use the Trainline app to search durations, prices, etc., across all providers. Want a Barca to Seville ticket that is $91 but takes 14 hours? They got you. Want a 6:45 trip for $172? They got you too. Sign up for SNCF/Renfe, etc. from the US, before you leave.
It doesn't look like you'd be on a minor route involving city/metro/regional trains during any part of the trip, so it'll be a matter of preference. The biggest inconvenience I've experienced is getting stuck on a local that takes 3h to go what should be 45m. I think we were stuck on a local from Marseille to Montpelier on such a train (due to the schedules of others), and it was like being on a subway for hours. Biggest risk, IMO.
You'll also likely be taking public transport in Barca, Madrid, etc. Just dump money on the local tap to pay card stored in your phone.
It doesn't look like you'd be on a minor route involving city/metro/regional trains during any part of the trip, so it'll be a matter of preference. The biggest inconvenience I've experienced is getting stuck on a local that takes 3h to go what should be 45m. I think we were stuck on a local from Marseille to Montpelier on such a train (due to the schedules of others), and it was like being on a subway for hours. Biggest risk, IMO.
You'll also likely be taking public transport in Barca, Madrid, etc. Just dump money on the local tap to pay card stored in your phone.
Posted on 8/12/24 at 1:54 am to LemmyLives
Thanks for the suggestions. The Trainline app was much better than the renfre app, renfre is mostly in spanish. Went ahead and booked the 2 that are most important, barcelona-sevilla and sevilla-madrid. Will look into booking the day trips soon.
Could you elaborate on this? I see there is no uber/lyft in barcelona. A buddy that went last year said they have a taxi app but they didnt show up several times when he used it and they ended up taking busses most the time. Wasn't sure which was easiest, a taxi or the subway station. It looks like they do have Uber in other parts, just not Barcelona
quote:
You'll also likely be taking public transport in Barca, Madrid, etc. Just dump money on the local tap to pay card stored in your phone.
Could you elaborate on this? I see there is no uber/lyft in barcelona. A buddy that went last year said they have a taxi app but they didnt show up several times when he used it and they ended up taking busses most the time. Wasn't sure which was easiest, a taxi or the subway station. It looks like they do have Uber in other parts, just not Barcelona
This post was edited on 8/12/24 at 1:59 am
Posted on 8/12/24 at 9:30 am to cfish140
Been in Seville for over 3.5 years now, and frequently use the Spanish train system. Best bet is just buy through the renfe site once you are in Spain, or as the site offers tickets for the dates you are planning to use it. Its rare for the train to sell out, and for the most popular destinations there are multiple trains each day. Also, Iryo, an Italian based high speed train line now operates in several cities in Spain.
Also, Barcelona and Seville have great public transportation within the city (busses, underground rail, taxi). Uber is also available in both cities, and the uber app you already have on your cellphone should work in Spain. The google maps app on your phone will get you where you want to go.
Also, Barcelona and Seville have great public transportation within the city (busses, underground rail, taxi). Uber is also available in both cities, and the uber app you already have on your cellphone should work in Spain. The google maps app on your phone will get you where you want to go.
This post was edited on 8/12/24 at 9:35 am
Posted on 8/19/24 at 6:23 pm to pmacneworleans
Let me add that you can experience difficulties at times with Renfe as they don't allow bookings in many cases more than six weeks out.
Rodo
Rodo
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